UAE restricts Philippines poultry imports

The UAE is restricting imports from an affected province of Philippines which has been hit with its first outbreak of avian flu, said the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on Monday.

To protect the emirates, the ministry said it is locking down its import control gates to guard against any incoming live or processed bird products originating from the province of Pampanga, Philippines.

Dr. Majid Sultan Al Qasimi, Director of Animal Health and Development Department, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, said the action was "based on the notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health about the registration of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Republic of the Philippines."

However, the UAE will allow "the importation of thermally-treated poultry products (treated meat and processed egg products) and thermally treated poultry waste from all of the Republic of the Philippines."

The ministry said it is "keen to raise the level of food safety and ensure the provision of safe food to the consumer. It works to implement the Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 on the safety of food, which applies to all establishments licensed to trade food or feed, and consignments coming to the country or passing through its territory."

When a shipment of food products is received by the authorities in the country, the documents accompanying the consignments, which include certificate of origin, health certificate and other required certificates such as Halal certificate, are strictly verified, the ministry said.

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